COBDENlSM. 59 



nation. The man's cjaculaiion icould seem to show that 

 the opinion was held that Mr. Cohdcn advocated free 

 trade rafhrr in order to get cheap labour in the toicns than 

 for anything else. The cheap bread could not possibly hare 

 hrpi. imported, as ice only imported 3,000 to 6,000 

 quarters of vhcat and ivli cat-flour per annum beticecn 

 1846 and 1853; whilst the price of wheat icas actually 

 higher from 1S50 to lSo5, namely, 53s. 3^(7. per quarter, 

 than in ISJ^O to ISoO, xchen it was 51s. 8^cl. per quarter. 

 In 18Ji5 it was 50s. lOd. per quarter. The labourer 

 therefore, was probably right, and Cobden wrong. 



